Chemo drugs and side effects

[Cailg]

Hi everyone. My sister-in-law's Mother was diagnosed with ovarian (was also in uteros) cancer. She had a hysterectomy and will start chem next week in Allentown, PA.

The chemo drugs she will be getting all at once are: taxol, doxil, and carboplatin. Can anyone tell us what to expect from this treatment? Is there anything that can be taken or done to minimize any side effects? Thanks

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi There,
here is a nice website to review the different chemo agents
best wishes

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/eto_1_3_Chemotherapy_Principles.asp

[Cailg]

Thank you so much for your response. I will say a pray for your Mom. She is inspriational.

[srttech]

Each person handles them differently.  The drugs aren't as bad as they used to be though.  They will make her tired and sometimes ache.  first session or two will probably cause nausea and wipe out.  The shots to boost White Blood Cell counts can cause pain all over for up to 2 days.  

Encourage her to get out and do things she's not done and wants to do - further into the treatment, she may be too weak to get out much.  Spend time with grandkids if she has them.

Encourage your sis-in-law to take her to get her hair cut very short - the shorter the better ... it will fall out quickly and this is hard to deal with because it comes out in chunks.  Take her wig shopping now before she needs it and shopping for a few hats - comfortable ones.  Pull out loose clothing  = skirts with big elastic allow her to just lift the skirt for exams with the doctor and then put it back down to go have the chemo treatment.  

Stay away from spicy foods!  Pick up a pack of depends for trips on the day of chemo or day after because bowel problems and holding water can be issues at times.

My mother is on her second series of drugs - stage 4 ovarian and she's able to get around well - very little pain.  We've been bowling, movies, beach next week, shopping.  She's 61.  She's going to die, but she's fighting it with all her might and not staying in bed for a minute.